Rwanda has condemned Canada’s decision to impose sanctions over its involvement in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The sanctions come in response to the support of the M23 armed group, which has been accused of receiving backing from Rwandan soldiers. The group has recently made significant territorial gains in the eastern DRC, which has led to widespread international criticism.
On Monday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly condemned Rwanda’s actions, stating that the country’s involvement in the DRC conflict constitutes violations of DRC’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as breaches of the United Nations Charter. In response, Canada suspended export permits for controlled goods and technologies to Rwanda and announced a review of its participation in international events hosted by Kigali.
Rwanda’s foreign ministry described Canada’s stance as “shameful,” emphasizing that the sanctions will not resolve the conflict. It also criticized Canada’s approach, stating that the country cannot claim to support regional peace efforts while placing all the blame on Rwanda.
The sanctions follow similar measures from the UK and the US, with the British government suspending most bilateral aid to Rwanda and the US sanctioning Rwandan Minister for Regional Integration, James Kabarebe, for his alleged role in supporting M23.
Rwanda has called for a more nuanced approach to the situation, asserting that the ongoing sanctions and condemnation do not address the broader regional issues contributing to the conflict.
